Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Page 3
Swearing-In Ceremonies for New Attorneys Set in Pasadena
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Prospective lawyers who passed the July 2002 California bar exam and have met other admission requirements may be sworn in early next month at eight ceremonies around the state, including the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
To gain admission to the California State Bar, prospective lawyers must pass a professional responsibility exam, receive a positive determination of moral character, and show that they have not been reported by local district attorneys for being in arrears in child support payments, in addition to passing the grueling three-day bar exam.
On Monday Dec. 2 admission ceremonies will be held at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, the Council Chambers in Fresno, and at the Riverside Superior Court Historic Courthouse.
The following day the oath will be administered in Pasadena, the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove and at the Ventura Hall of Justice. The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina will host the ceremony on Thursday Dec. 4 and finally new attorneys will be sworn in at the Oakland Convention Center on Dec. 5.
Admission to the U.S. District Court for the Central District will also take place during the ceremony in Pasadena, Garden Grove, Riverside and Ventura. Admission to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District will take place during the ceremony in Oakland, and people will be admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District in San Diego.
Admission to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District will be conducted in Fresno.
The State Bar reported last Friday that just over half of the people who took the July 2002 California bar exam passed. If everyone who passed the test satisfies the other admission requirements, California will gain 3,793 new lawyers.
Eligible candidates are not required to attend any of the admission ceremonies that will be held before the California Court of Appeal, and instead may chose to take the oath before any of the following officers.
In California any judge, justice, court commissioner or clerk of a court of record may administer the oath. An eligible candidate may also take the oath before a commanding officer if in the military service, the American consul if in a foreign country, or a notary public.
Any member of the state legislature, any county officer and members of the State Bar Board of Governors are also authorized to administer the oath.
Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company